There was a time when the idea of Maggie Gyllenhall in something described as a “feathered gown” would have us pre-cringing in anticipation of the total disaster to come.

Well, we’re happy to report that it’s only a partial one.

Maggie Gyllenhaal attends the 2014 Tony Awards in New York City in a Dolce&Gabbana feathered gown.

The bust and the bottom 12 inches to the hem are pretty bad, but everything in the middle works. That’s something, right? We’re trying to be encouraging here. Any time you put a woman in head-to-toe (or boobs to knees) white feathers, you’re really taking a risk that she’s going to be called “Chicken Lady” for the rest of the night. We like the sparkle of the dress, and we think a more judicious use of white feathers could have come across elegant, but the shape does nothing for her and the area from her shins to the floor is just plain ugly. It looks like they ran out of time or feathers.

And honestly, not to be bitches or anything (HAHAHAHA), but you’re in a freaking Dolce & Gabbana gown, posing on a red carpet at the Tonys. You couldn’t manage something a little better than Piercing Pagoda posts for jewelry? You couldn’t hire someone to do your hair and makeup? Tsk.

She actually has a smoking hot body but you would not know it by looking at this dress.

evave2

That was my thought too. It’s just most of the time she looks so awkward to me no matter what she is wearing; I don’t know what she is looking for in the clothing she chooses to wear. I hope that makes sense.

She does look like a lovely person here, very soft smile.

I agree her makeup does not really look professionally done and that her jewelry might be better for the outfit.

teensmom99

The first time I ever realized just what an amazing body she has is when I saw Crazy Heart. Well, I never did see Secretary so that might explain why it took me so long. She should talk to the costume designer for that film (though I think she mostly wore jeans).

SugarSnap108

Great body, beautiful face. She could easily be a knock-out if she chose an option other than a feathered bed sheet.

StarburstLady

It would also help if she wouldn’t slump like she’s been sitting at a computer all day.

if they ask you could lie and tell them you made it yourself from feather just lying around.

Hallie

she was floaty and breathtaking and lovely in person, so tall and lean and chic!!

formerlyAnon

This makes me happy to know.

SierraDelta

Me, too!

Anna

Looks like a feathered pillowcase.

Wink

She’s just so likeable that I find her awkwardness and unconventional fashion choices to be rather endearing. (But still, this dress — in knee-length — would have been much better.)

ktr33

Her face looks cute and flushed and glowing to me – I’m not terribly bothered by the lack of dramatic makeup. The hem looks like it’s ripping off and the underfabric looks like an orlon half slip. Maybe a plainer bodice, and the dress stops before the orlon, and we could’ve been in business-ish? [edit] and she’s SO much better as a brunette. welcome back!

imspinningaround

This outfit is like a fashion Mad Lib.

_____ [celebrity] had to get dressed for _____ [awards show] and didn’t know what to wear. So the nice people from _____ [designer] made her a _____ [color] dress with a special detail just for her… _____ [silly embellishment]!

Introspective

agree!

(ive said this before on the boards, but Ima say it again: i miss project rungay dress libs!!!!! uncles TLo bring them back for even a throwback thursday once in a blue moon, pretty please??)

nannypoo

I think her hair and makeup look great. The dress is pretty bad, but it all could have been so much worse.

teensmom99

Hair and make up do look good but not for this outfit. Sometimes, a girl just has to pull out all stops–and that dress (even if I don’t like it) needed more–and the more might have helped sell the look.

She’s sweaty, and the hem detail throws it into the negligee category…and that’s why she’s sweaty…she must have had an encounter on the way over…

BlairBear

Maybe her stylist stole Lucy Liu’s dress and had to tack on several inches at the last minute. Don’t hate the middle part of the dress and dont really mind the bust. Compared to the stuff she has come out in in years past this is pretty good for her.

Piercing Pagoda posts…. I am trying so hard to stifle my laughter at work right now. Thank you uncles.

SophieB210

I know, I had forgotten all about those! Makes me want an Orange Julius.

nycfan

I have seen a number of movies she is in and I guess I am in some hopeless minority but I don’t get the love of her as some great actress. She’s good, not saying otherwise, but I’ve never seen her in anything where she seemed irreplaceable and in a few where I wished some one (anyone) else had the role. So there’s that.

But I always admire that she walks to the beat of her own drum on the style front, even if the results sometimes end up somewhere between crazy bag lady who shoplifted wildly expensive clothes from the loading dock of a fashion show to just unflattering. Here she looks like she worked out at the gym, had a spritz and dressed for the event in the locker room. Her posture and other body language doesn’t exactly read pleased with what she is wearing, either.

I think she looks better as a blonde. as for the dress, I don’t mind the top, but I wish the bottom didn’t have those sad little feathers at the very end and I wish her waist was snatched in just a teeny bit more.

KES4K

I…actually like her makeup? But that’s probably b/c it’s about on par with what I manage myself on the average workday. Sometimes I even add brow pencil! Like the dress, agree someone just ran out of feathers.

marlie

The dress is a little too shapeless on Maggie, but it definitely has potential. But she really screwed the pooch on hair, makeup, and accessories. I get that she really just doesn’t care, but she still could have at least put in a teensy bit of effort.

Carleenml

It absolutely has potential but that hemline is so no, no, no, no 1970s notion shopping with grandma or something.

Imasewsure

She looks naturally adorable from the neck up and the rest is feathered asshattery…. oh Maggie Maggie Maggie

No. Not the only one. Although at their show Kevin did a little opening number about the history of the group–for all the girls who were dragged their by their 42-year old boyfriends.

I am going out tonight with a guy who has never seen the show. This makes me think that he is definitely under the age of 30. Ack!

I’m pissed that they took KITH off of Netflix.

Not applicable

I was offline yesterday & missed this response. How was the date?? Was he under 30 or just way behind on GenX pop culture?

Also pissed they took KITH off Netflix- it’s usually all about the $$$… :/

FibonacciSequins

I remember! I even saw them live once. It’s weird how little they’re remembered now. Maybe they’re due for a renaissance?

Not applicable

I would love that- it was such a quirky humor- WAY before its time, IMHO

ChelseaNH

They should have started the feathers at the bottom; running out of them near the waist would have been more flattering.

LadyVimes

I like the feathery hair with the feathers, but the cut of that dress is doing her no favors.

Hermione

Yeah, I think it’s kind of hilarious that her hair looks to have been deliberately styled as feathers to match her dress.

formerlyAnon

Your doesn’t-give-a-shit-about-what’s-in-style friend whose life is devoted to music/sports/political theory/filmmaking/building tabletop models for role play games/general nerdery (choose as many as apply) inexplicably decides to go all out for prom.

FibonacciSequins

I don’t think any of it works. The dress isn’t horrible, it just reminds me of a rumpled bed with feathers that leaked out of a pillow.

What is with her hair? She has bangs laying flat, but then the hair on the crown of her head is sticking up?

Elle E Dee

She’s looking a loooooot like Carol from The Walking Dead, no?

unbornfawn

The bottom trim look like it was safety pinned or tacked on every few inches. No, no, no. I desperately want to do something with her hair.

Mr. J.

Life seems to agree with Maggie these days…..wonderful to see.

MartyBellerMask

I think she looks great.

connie238

If the dress had stopped at the knee, she would have had a lovely Twenties vibe. And maybe with a sparkly headband? Or is that too costume-y?

Joanna

Aaaaand, she’s a brunette again. She became instantly edgier with the blonde – she should never have switched back.

demidaemon

It looks like a befeathered nightgown. A very cheap befeathered nightgown. It hurts me to say this, but I probably would have preferred her crazy granny chic over this mess.

in a pickle

Overall I think it’s bad and not flattering to her shape (the bottom definitely looks like a cheap nylon nightgown), but I will say if she threw her shoulders back and gave it some attitude/movement it would look a ton better and maybe even good. It’s not a dress for a shy half-smile.